I remember when I first started growing, the grift is still the same, get a lot of people who are desperate to grow great smoke, who aren't sure how...to buy all the "new" hyped products they can, to do it without the actual research, due diligence and trial and error needed to grow good medicine. I started to fall for some of it in the beginning of my journey too, but after about a year of trial and error, I narrowed down the necessities to light, water, environment, good NPK ratios, some micronutrients like greensand, D.E. and lots of love and attention. Same things you would need to grow fantastic tomatoes and peppers! Products? after researching a lot and some trial and error, I found those products all over my property for free! And gardening techniques that were learned along the way came from ancient knowledge read about, not from some company, they, would rather hide the info. BUT I do understand the allure of quick returns without the investment of time and due diligence. Especially with the younger crowd. The allure is nice and shiny, but the reality is you can grow really great stuff with very little help from Big Business. All you need to do is be attentive to your plants, and they will tell you what they need. A lot of the bloom boosters and such, if you really want them, can be made right in your back yard. Many of you seasoned guys already know this, but a lot more of us need to understand that the only real valuable thing available online, is information. Free information at that. And definitely stock (Trustfall, your Triangle crosses have my attention, you will be hearing from me in the future for sure) All of us here do what works for us. It may not work for your neighbor, but it does for you, that's also something that differs among us. Spreading this knowledge with each other, should keep us pretty informed on the actual science, while sussing out all the "bro-science", B.S. I'm not knocking growing products either, just that for the new grower, they tend to get sucked into the machine, instead of doing their own work first and understanding the plant. I hate to see that. There is no real need for most of those products at all. They are redundant. But the uninformed don't know that. Because, the machine is capitalism, not agriculture. And the machine wants you to believe that you need it to do this. You absolutely don't. My gosh! they even build boxes that purport to be able to grow your cannabis for you, with zero input from you. Just let your inconspicuous Ikea cabinet, complete with grow light, fan and feeding tubes, just sit and hum in the corner looking good. Can you imagine how lifeless, how soulless that method would be? That would bring no health or happiness to my life at all. In fact, that sounds like desperation to have...but not to work for. In my opinion, that isn't good. BUT that's me. What I love about these boards and this forum and all of you, is that we have love for the plant, the processes and nature. I love looking in on your grows (never shared mine, and probably never will) and reading your methods and seeing your setups. I'm kind of new to the boards and am not much for butting in, but just wanted to put in my thoughts. I've been growing for a good while now, but still learn something new all the time. It's the real people out here doing it that creates the quality and direction this goes in. It's never gonna be drama free, I'm sure. Life isn't. Thanks for having me aboard. And Hey, from what I've seen of your grows, you guys do tremendously well. Keep up the good work! My advice would only be, become as self sustaining as possible to grow this plant. The benefits will surpass your expectations, I promise. Many of you already know this :)
